Reds extend forward Haraguchi

SAITAMA – Urawa Reds have extended their contract with Japan Under-22 forward Genki Haraguchi to 2014, the club said Thursday.

“In contract talks, we even talked about his intention of playing overseas in the future,” said Reds general manager Koichi Hashiratani. “He told me he wants to go overseas after becoming a better player and producing results for the Reds.”

His initial contract was to expire at the end of this season.

“I really felt the weight of expectations from the Reds,” the 20-year-old Haraguchi said in a statement.